Meghalaya takes precautionary steps after bomb threat

Meghalaya Home Minister H.D.R.Lyngdoh Monday reviewed the security situation after Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels threatened to carry out serial blasts across the state.
“We have taken all precautionary steps to thwart any attempt of the rebels to carry out their attacks in the State and we appeal to the public not be panic,” Lyngdoh said.
“Our men are on alert and everyone (security forces) has been assigned with specific task to prevent these attacks,” Lyngdoh told Nagaland Post.
Sohan D Shira, the military chief of Garo National Liberation Army Sunday threatened to bomb commercial places like Bara Bazaar, Police Bazaar, Tura market and others if the government did not withdraw central forces from Garo Hills region and stopped the ongoing combing operation.
Garo National Liberation Army’s threat came after two units of Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) commandos and five companies of Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were deployed in the Garo Hills region. “Nothing doing to their demand (withdraw of central forces), instead our combing operations has been further intensified in certain areas to flush them (rebels) out,” the Home Minister said.
Meanwhile, additional director general of police Rajiv Mehta has rushed to Garo Hills to take stock of the ground situation. The Garo National Liberation Army, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign ‘Garoland’ has forged an operational alliance with the United Liberation Front of Asom and National Democratic Front of Bodoland. More than 10 people, including security personnel, have been killed in the Garo Hills during the last one year by Garo National Liberation Army rebels.
The outfit, headed by police officer-turned-outlaw, Champion R. Sangma, had earlier slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1 crore on government officials, ministers, legislators and businessmen.
The Garo Hills region is being used as a safe haven for various northeast-based militant groups.